Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

LEOMINSTER -- Although the entire Central Mass Voodoo ASA/USA Softball organization is accustomed to success, the accomplishments of the 12U team are rising far above even those lofty standards.

The 12U team, coached by Derek Asadoorian, has made winning tournament titles the norm, boasting a near-perfect record this summer and sending five players to the ultra-competitive USA Softball All-American Games Northeast All-Star team, making this squad of 12 local athletes the most highly accomplished group in the seven-year existence of the Voodoo program.

"We have a lot of talent on the team," Asadoorian said. "But above all they are all just hard-working and committed, as are their families. What makes our team so great is that we have a very consistent lineup, and the ability to move people around without a drop-off."

The 12U Voodoo have played in six tournaments so far this summer, and brought home the championship four times, while also accumulating two runners-up trophies. Most recently, over the weekend of July 9, the Asadoorian 12U team won the USA Softball Massachusetts 12U Class A championship in convincing fashion.

The U12's record so far this season stands at 30 wins and just two losses.

"It was a big accomplishment for the girls to win the state tournament," Asadoorian said. "All of the teams there were highly competitive, and we were fortunate enough to do very well.

Advertisement

We played in six games in a double-elimination tournament and went 6-0 and scored 64 runs, with only six against.

"We beat the Concord Raiders in the championship, and they are a really high-profile organization in their own right."

The Voodoo use their depth and versatility to their advantage. Of the 12 girls on the roster, nine can pitch, while the other three can all play catcher. Despite boasting versatility, the biggest strength of the 12U's is their ability to adapt to their opponents and play above their ability level.

"We're able to survive without a dominant pitcher," Asadoorian said. "We have a deep pitching staff that we use, but we continue to find ways to win. I can put multiple lineups together against great teams and still be successful, and that is one of the best aspects of the team."

Five players received a huge honor in the All-American Games with their qualification. More than 460 girls from throughout the Northeast tried out for the team, and only 45 made the squad. The Asadoorian 12U's are well represented in the series, which is perhaps best described as softball's version of the Little League World Series.

The games will take place from Aug. 18-20 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Allie Asadoorian (2B/OF/P), who hails from Westminster, Danielle Belliveau (SS/2B/P), who resides in Templeton, Bella Gasbarro (3B/C/OF) who lives in Leominster, Bailey Tammaro (OF/P) who is a Fitchburg resident, and Lezlie Walker (C/SS/3B/OF), who commutes from Ayer, are the five representatives from the Voodoo who made the All-American Games squad.

"These girls work tremendously hard at practice," Asadoorian said. "These are 12-year-old girls, and you see them making diving plays and outstanding throws. I was a high school varsity coach for 16 years, and these girls function a lot like a high school varsity team. That's the caliber that we are talking about."

Many of the girls on the 12U team grew up together in the Voodoo system, which translates into strong chemistry on the playing field.

"We've been able to create some very deep bonds and chemistry, which I think is one of the reasons for our success," Asadoorian said. "They know how to work hard, with a very positive attitude. We function as a family, and spend a lot of time together and a lot of time playing softball, which I think is a great experience for the girls."